Housing in Dublin is reaching boiling point, says Chamber

Dublin Chamber says it is concerned that the supply of new homes in Dublin and its wider commuter base has consistently failed to meet demand for the past two decades.

The group also said that a fractious planning system, long delays in urban brownfield redevelopment and the de-zoning of land has led to high prices for both buyers and renters across the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).

“In order to meet this pent-up demand and the needs of a rapidly rising population in the region,” said Aebhric Mc Gibney, Director of Public & International Affairs.

“We believe that a minimum of half of all new housing construction for decades to come needs to be in the Greater Dublin Area.

“With the range of forecasts that have been made regarding future housing needs, we estimate that this equates to about 30,000 units per year.

“In 2023 18,306 units were commenced in the GDA, this is far short of the demand that is needed.

“We welcome the reform of the planning system recently adopted by Government and the moves to invest more in water, waste water, public transport and grid capacity that would allow more housing to be built.

“However, the National Planning Framework, which underpins investment decisions for the National Development Plan, must be revisited. It has missed the mark and seeks to prevent people who wish to work and live in Dublin from doing so.”

“There are great possibilities for growth under current government plans from opportunities in expansion of public transport to more effective delivery of infrastructure.

“Alongside these opportunities are challenges namely complacency, a slow planning process, long lead in times and diverting housing investment away from where people actually want to live.

“Not meeting the demand for housing in Dublin leaves Ireland at risk from attracting continued international investment and endangers future growth in the capital”.